South Lake Tahoe police officer pleads guilty to federal charges

South Lake Tahoe police officer Johnny Poland pleaded guilty to federal counts of witness tampering and obstructing official proceedings Wednesday, according to a statement from federal prosecutors.

"According to court documents, on June 29, 2011, Poland interfered with a federal investigation of a South Lake Tahoe gang member," according to the statement. "Poland persuaded the gang member's girlfriend to conceal and destroy evidence."

"In October and November 2011, Poland tampered with this witness in an investigation into his own conduct as well as the conduct of the gang member," the statement continues. "Poland instructed another witness to conceal and destroy evidence rather than provide it to federal authorities. Poland admitted that he corruptly attempted to alter, destroy, mutilate, and conceal evidence material to an official proceeding."

Poland is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 7. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each guilty plea, according to the statement.